Collapsible portable exercising machine

ABSTRACT

An exercising machine of the type to permit exercising while the body is extending horizontally with arms stretched vertically and with the feet disposed in the foot support that can swivel comprising a vertical support frame, an adjustable brace support frame and a hammock support frame, all of the frames being formed of U-shaped member and collapsible one upon the other to extend the frames vertically for the purpose of storage. Wheels are provided upon the brace support frame at the lower end thereof onto which the collapsed frames of the machine can be pivoted for the purpose of being transported. All of the frames are formed of U-shaped members with the brace frame comprising two U-shaped members with the legs of one U-shaped member telescoping with the legs of the other U-shaped member and held extended by latch pin devices but releasable to permit the collapse of the machine. The hammock frame assembly comprises a U-shaped member at the outer end having legs collapsible into sleeves which are pivotally connected to the legs of the vertical support and from which the hammock is supported. Handle bars are adjustably provided upon the vertical support frame and a winch can be used for vertically adjusting the hammock frame support to a vertically extended position when the machine is being adapted for storage. Either a T-shaved swivel foot support is provided upon the hammock frame assembly or a bicycle like pedal crank can be used for supporting the feet.

United States Patent [191 Garner [451 Jan.9,1973

[54] COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE EXERCISING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Jimmy D. Garner, Route 2, Deatsville, Ala. 36022 [22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,597

[52] US. Cl ..272/58, 272/57 A, 272/73 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 23/02 [58] Field of Search ..272/1 R, 33 R, 57 R, 58, 60,

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello Attorney-Laforest S. Saulsbury et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An exercising machine of the type to permit exercising while the body is extending horizontally with arms stretched vertically and with the feet disposed in the foot support that can swivel comprising a vertical support frame, an adjustable brace support frame and a hammock support frame, all of the frames being formed of U-shaped member and collapsible one upon the other to extend the frames vertically for the purpose of storage. Wheels are provided upon the brace support frame at the lower end thereof onto which the collapsed frames of the machine can be pivoted for the purpose of being transported. All of the frames are formed of U-shaped members with the brace frame comprising two U-shaped members with the legs of one U-shaped member telescoping with the legs of the other U-shaped member and held extended by latch pin devices but releasable to permit the collapse of the machine. The hammock frame assembly comprises a U-shaped member at the outer end having legs collapsible into sleeves which are pivotally connected to the legs of the vertical support and from which the hammock is supported. Handle bars are adjustably provided upon the vertical support frame and a winch can be used for vertically adjusting the hammock frame support to a vertically extended position when the machine is being adapted for storage. Either a T- shaved swivel foot support is provided upon the hammock frame assembly or a bicycle like pedal crank can be used for supporting the feet.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 1915 3709488 SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENTEDJAN 9197a SHEET 2 UF 3 FIGJO PATENTEUJAN 9 I875 3.709.488 sum 3 OF 3 FIG.|I

COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE EXERCISING MACHINE This invention relates to a collapsible portable exercising machine in which the user can extend himself horizontally and be held suspended for twisting movement of the body while grasping handle bars vertically spaced from one another on the vertical frame support.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hammock type exercising machine in which the frames of the machine consist of an assembly of U-shaped members to thereby make possible a machine which can be readily assembled without putting parts together but merely with the extending of the frame assemblies so that they span the bottom of the machine for support upon a floor surface.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portable exercising machine in which the frame assemblies are hinged upon one another and wherein the frames can be adjusted to adapt the machine to users of different lengths.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an exercising machine formed of U-shaped frame members which can be collapsed upon one another for the adapting of the machine for purposes of transport or storage and readily extended when the machine is to be set up at a new location and wherein the brace and the vertical frame are held separate from one another by simple collapsible brackets extending between the lower ends of the frame members and wherein wheeled supports are provided on one of the frame members for the removal of the collapsed machine to a new location by pivoting the machine onto the wheels and the collapsed machine moved in wheel-barrow like fashion.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a collapsible portable exercising machine adapted for use by a user when extended in a horizontal position and including pivotable foot supports, which, having the above objects in mind, is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, easy to initially assemble, easy to collapse for transport, durable, light in weight, of pleasing appearance, efficient and effective in use.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the exercising machine formed of U-shaped vertical and bracing members and embodying the features of the present invention, the machine being erected for use.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the exercising machine.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the hinge bracket fittings fixed to the vertical members to hingedly support the hammock pivot frame on the outer end of which the foot grip support is pivotally mounted.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a latch pin used for securing the U-shaped brace members telescoped one from the other.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the latch pin assembly shown in FIG. 4 and as viewed on line 55 thereof.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the exercising machine collapsed vertically preparatory to being transported on its wheels.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the exercising machine looking in elevation generally upon the U-shaped vertical support member and upon the handle bars that are gripped by the user of the machine when performing the exercise.

FIG. 8 shows handle bars adjustable upon the vertical support member legs to different pin hole elevations thereon.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the handle bar pin lock mounting assembly as used on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view taken of the outer end of the U-shaped frame member of the hammock supporting frame assembly with a bicycle type foot supporting apparatus pivoted upon the bight end of the support member and with pedals arranged in crank fashion.

FIG. 1 l is a top and side perspective view of the exercising machine showing all of the U-shaped frame members in full and with the machine set up fully for receiving the user of the machine.

Referring now to the Figures, 15 represents the main vertical support formed of tubing and bent into U- shape to provide for a top bight portion 16 and side legs 17 and 18 that respectively have foot plates 19 and 21 at their lower end on which the vertical support 15 is rested when the machine is set up for use. The vertical support 15 can be formed by a simple bending procedure.

l-Iingedly connected to the bight portion 16 of the vertical support 15 by spaced hinges 22 and 23 is a telescoping brace assembly 24 comprising two upper and lower U-shaped telescoping members 25 and 26 which are axially adjustable one with another to either set up the assembly 24 for effecting the raising of the vertical support in a vertically extending position or for the collapse of the parts when the brace assembly 24 is being hinged so that the same can be moved to a position vertically overlying the vertical support 15 so that the machine can consume little space and at times of transport of the machine.

The upper telescoping brace member 25 is formed of a rod bent into U-shape by the usual bending procedure and has a bight portion 27 connected by the hinges 22 and 23 to the bight portion 16 of the vertical support 15 and which is of equal width to the bight portion 16 thereof. Legs 28 and 29 descend from the bight portion 27 and are interfitted for telescoping movement within upwardly extending legs 31 and 32 of the lower U- shaped member 26 having a bight portion 33 that will rest on the floor when the machine is set up for use to brace the main vertical frame support 15. On the upper ends of the legs of tubular lower brace member 26 are respectively pin lock assemblies 33 and 34 adapted to enter pin receiving holes 35 and 36 of the respective legs 28 and 29 of the upper U-shaped member 25 of the brace assembly 24. These pinlatch assemblies 33 and 34 are shown more in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. They include a pin 37 having a hand knob 38 mounted on a raised outer end of a spring mounting member 39 welded at 41 to the outer surface of leg 31 or 32. The legs 31 and 32 have a hole 42 for accommodating the pin 37 which hole can be aligned with one of the adjusting holes 35 or 36 of the leg 28 or 29 respectively of the upper brace member 25.

When it is desired to collapse the apparatus to conserve space and for purposes of transport the pins 37 of the pin assemblies 33 and 34 are simply pulled to allow the legs 28 and 29 of the upper U-shaped member 25 to be lowered into the respective legs 31 and 32 of the lower U-shaped member 26.

At each side of the lower U-shaped member at the respective opposite end of the bight portion 33 are mounted wheel brackets 44 and 45 carrying respectively wheels 46 and 47. These brackets and wheels extend normally when the exercising machine is set up for use as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 extend rearwardly and out of contact with the floor but when the machine is collapsed in a manner to be made more clear as is shown in FIG. 6 so that the brace frame assembly 24 is col lapsed onto the vertical support as shown in FIG. 6, the wheels 46 and 47 may contact the floor so that upon the machine being tilted downwardly from its upper end portions the same may be supported in wheel barrow fashion upon the floor to allow the machine to be easily transported to a new location. This is all effected without any detailed disassembling of any of the parts.

In order that the brace assembly 24 can be held in its outwardly extended position from the vertical frame support 15 at times when the machine is being used, collapsible brace assemblies 48 and 49 extend between the vertical frame and the brace assembly at their lower ends and can be collapsed upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 6 by their respective hinge connections 51 and their pivotal connections respectively at their ends with the side legs of frame support and the brace assembly as indicated respectively at 52 and 53. When the collapsible braces 48 and 49 are lifted as best shown in FIGS. 6, the lower end of the brace assembly 24 can be joined or made to overlie the lower end of the vertical frame support 15. Thus again by merely pulling the pin assemblies 33 and 34 of the brace assembly 24 and lifting the collapsible brackets 48 and 49 the brace 24 can be collapsed onto the vertical support 15 Mounted respectively on the legs 17 and 18 of the vertical support frame 15 and intermediate the height thereof are respectively pivot brackets 56 and 57 as best shown in FIG. 3 and to which are respectively pivotally connected the ends of tubular sleeves 58 and 59 by respective pivot pins 61 and 62. Telescopically fitted into the free ends of the sleeves 58 and 59 are respective legs 63 and 64 joined by a bight portion 65 to provide a U-shaped member which when taken with the sleeves 58 and 59 provides for a hammock frame assembly which may be indicated generally at 66 that is vertically adjustable within the brace frame assembly 24 and through the brackets 56 and 57 upon the vertical frame support 15. This vertical adjustment of the hammock frame 66 is effected by means ofa winch 68 operated by a hand crank 69 easily accessible to the user of the exercising machine when stretched horizontally within the hammock frame assembly 66 at the opposite side of the machine. As the crank 69 is turned one way to the other, the hammock frame assembly 66 can be lifted or lowered at the will of the user and who will be lying in a hammock fabric 76 loosely stretched and so as to cradle between the sleeves 58 and 59 and with its ends looped and sleeved onto the sleeves 58 and 59 to thereby provide a vertical connection of the hammock therebetween so that considerable weight may be supported by the hammock fabric 76. The legs 63 and 64 of the U-shaped frame member have respec tively adjusting holes 63' and 64 into which pin assemblies 77 and 78 constructed similar to the pin assemblies 33 and 34 may be extended to hold the U-shaped frame in its adjusted position with its legs telescoped in or out of the sleeves 58 and 59. The adjustment is made to adapt the hammock and frame assembly for persons of different height.

On the bight portion 65 of the U-shaped frame member a sleeve 81 is rigidly connected to extend axially and longitudinally with the hammock frame 66. A T-shaped foot support member 82 is journaled by its stem 83 in the sleeve 81 and on the outer ends are mounted foot supports 84 and 85 into which the users feet are extended when lying in the hammock 76.

In order that the user can hold himself out of the hammock 76 while his feet are being supported in the supports 84 and 85, vertically spaced handle bars 87 and 88 are adjustably secured between the legs 17 and 18 of the vertical frame support 15. The distance between the handle bars 87 and 88 will be equal to the spance of the arms of the user extended outwardly from the shoulders. With the arms so gripping the handle bars 87 and 88 and with the body of the user out of the hammock 76 and his feet in place in the foot grip supports 84 and 85 the user can twist and turn to work the various muscles of the body to particularly exercise the legs and torso muscles as well as the shoulder and arm muscles. The body is lifted clear of the hammock and the muscles of the body must support the full weight of the users body against the pull of gravity. When the exercise is complete or the user desires a rest, he may drop onto the hammock 76. While on the hammock with the hands made free of the handle bars 87 and 88 the user may turn the crank 69 of the winch 68 to raise or lower the hammock frame support assembly 66 and if lowered to the full extent the user can leave the hammock with the feet having been taken from the foot supports 84 and 85 and dropped to the floor and the body positioned by the lowering of the hammock frame 66 to nearly a vertical position so that the user can slide out of the forward end of the hammock 7 6.

The handle bars 87 and 88 are connected at their ends to the legs 17 and 18 of the vertical support frame 15 by respective pin latch devices 89 and 91 for the handle bar 87 and 92 and 93 for the upper handle bar 88. One of these spring latch devices will be described which will suffice for a description of all of the devices. The spring latch device 92 is shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9 and comprises a cradle like fitting member 94 that is slidable upon the legs 17 and on which there is provided a spring leaf 95 that has a latch pin 96 that overlies the lower end of the member 94 and can be extended into any one of several adjusting holes 96' in the vertical legs 17. The handle bar 88 has an internal metal tube 97 on which a rubber grip sleeve 98 is fixed. Extending outwardly from the end of the tube 97 is a pivot fitting 99 that is journaled in the cradle like member 94. By lifting the spring latch 95 and withdrawing the pin 96 from the pin holes 96' the handle bar 88 or 87 can be adjusted vertically, the spring latch 93 of the opposite assembly being lifted simultaneously so as to free both ends of the handle bar 87 or 88 at the same time.

In FIG. 10 there is shown a pedal crank assembly 101 that can replace the foot rest assembly 82 so that the feet of the user may be supported in a bicycle crank manner to permit the legs to be worked like on a bicycle while lying in the hammock 76 and at the same time permit the user to bicycle while lifting his body from the hammock 76. This bicycle crank has oppositely extending crank arms 102 and 103 which respectively have pivotal foot grips 104 and 105 on their outer ends. The crank 101 is joumaled in a T fitting 106 carried on a stem 107 that is journaled into sleeve 81 fixed to the bight portion 65 of between legs 63 and 64 of the outer U-shaped member of the hammock frame assembly 66.

The user of the machine can use the hammock 76 while resting between exercises. The user of the machine can exercise as vigorously or mildly as he wishes. The arms, legs, shoulders, back and neck muscles will be gradually developed and strengthened by the use of the machine.

When the machine is not to be used it can be easily collapsed as above described and transported on its wheels 46 and 47 to another location or to a storage space. By the provision of the use of U-shaped members the cost of producing this machine has been greatly reduced and at the same time permits the machine to be a portable one and one which can be collapsed and easily rearranged for use without need for disassembling members or assembling the members when the machine is to be put into use. A minimum number of parts has thus been provided for the manufacture of this type of exercising machine to make for an original and easy assembling of the parts and to provide parts which permit for the adjustment of the parts to adapt the machine to the users height.

What I claim is: k

l. A portable exercising machine comprising a U- shaped vertical support frame having vertically extending legs and a top bight portion, the lower end of said legs being engageable with a floor support surface, a downwardly and forwardly inclined brace frame assembly including a U-shaped member having a bight portion and downwardly extending legs and a telescoping part slidably fitted upon the ends of the legs, the bight portion of the U-shaped member being hingedly connected to the bight portion of the vertical support frame, collapsible brackets connected between the lower ends of the vertical support frame and the brace frame to permit the collapse of the brace frame onto the vertical support frame when the machine is to be transported or stored, and a U-shaped hammock frame assembly having a bight portion with legs pivotally connected with the legs of the vertical support frame, a hammock suspended between the legs of the hammock frame assembly for supporting the user when at rest and a swiveled foot support assembly journaled upon the bight portion of the hammock frame assembly, handle bars extending between the legs of the vertical support frame and vertically spaced from one another, said handle bars adapted to be gripped by the hands of the user while resting in the hammock and while supporting the feet in the swiveled foot support.

2. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said brace support frame further including a second U-shaped member having a bottom bight portion and hollow legs telescopingly receiving the legs of the first U-shaped member of the brace frame assembly and said legs of the further U-shaped member having spring pin latch retaining devices and the legs of the first U-shaped member having adjusting holes for receiving the pin latches, whereupon with the releasing of the pin latches and the collapsing of the brackets connected to the lower ends of the vertical support and brace frames, the frames can be readily collapsed vertically upon one another.

3. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 2 and said further U-shaped member having wheel assemblies connected at the ends of the bight portion for supporting the exercising machine when collapsed.

4. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said hammock support frame including sleeves respectively pivotally connected at their ends to the vertical legs of the vertical support frame and the legs of the U-shaped hammock frame member being respectively adjustable in and out of the outer ends of the sleeves and respectively having adjusting holes, pin latch devices provided on the outer ends of the sleeves for holding the frame member of the hammock support frame in its adjusted position within the sleeves and a hammock suspended between the sleeves in longitudinal alignment with the pivotable foot support.

5. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 4, and a winch mechanism carried on one of the hammock sleeves and having a cable extending therefrom to the forward end of one of the sleeves upwardly and across between pulleys on the bight portion of the first U-shaped brace member and to the opposite sleeve.

6. A portable exercise machine as defined in claim 1, and said vertical support legs having adjusting holes and said vertically spaced handle bars having pin latch devices at the opposite ends of the same adapted to engage with the adjusting holes of the vertical legs of the vertical support frame to hold the handle bars at different vertically adjusted positions.

7. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said swiveled foot supporting device including a double pedal crank, a T fitting member having a stem, said double pedal crank joumaled in the T fitting member and axially extending sleeve in said stem of the T fitting member being journaled in the axially extending sleeve, said sleeve being secured to the bight portion of the hammock frame U-shaped member.

8. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said brace frame assembly including a further U- shaped member being formed of tubular stock having a bight portion and vertically extending legs telescopically receiving the legs of the first brace frame U- shaped member, and pin latch devices for adjustably retaining the U-shaped members in positions extended from one another and releasable to permit the collapse of the machine and said hammock frame including sleeves pivotally connected at their ends to the legs of the vertical frame support and the U-shaped member of the hammock frame having legs respectively telescopingly fitted in the outer ends of the sleeves, said legs of the U-shaped hammock frame member having adjusting holes and said sleeves having pin latch devices engageable with the adjusting holes of the hammock frame U-shaped member to permit the collapse of the hammock frame U-shaped member into the sleeves and to hold the same to an outwardly extended adjusted position, said hammock being extended between the sleeves of the hammock frame assembly,

U-shaped member of the brace frame assembly and receiving the cable and anchor means on the sleeve of the opposite side of the hammock frame support, said winch means and cable serving to elevate the hammock frame assembly to different vertical positions and upwardly to a vertically extended position parallel with the vertical support on the brace frame assembly being collapsed and the exercising machine being made ready for transport and storage. 

1. A portable exercising machine comprising a U-shaped vertical support frame having vertically extending legs and a top bight portion, the lower end of said legs being engageable with a floor support surface, a downwardly and forwardly inclined brace frame assembly including a U-shaped member having a bight portion and downwardly extending legs and a telescoping part slidably fitted upon the ends of the legs, the bight portion of the U-shaped member being hingedly connected to the bight portion of the vertical support frame, collapsible brackets connected between the lower ends of the vertical support frame and the brace frame to permit the collapse of the brace frame onto the vertical support frame when the machine is to be transported or stored, and a U-shaped hammock frame assembly having a bight portion with legs pivotally connected with the legs of the vertical support frame, a hammock suspended between the legs of the hammock frame assembly for supporting the user when at rest and a swiveled foot support assembly journaled upon the bight portion of the hammock frame assembly, handle bars extending between the legs of the vertical support frame and vertically spaced from one another, said handle bars adapted to be gripped by the hands of the user while resting in the hammock and while supporting the feet in the swiveled foot support.
 2. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said brace support frame further including a second U-shaped member having a bottom bight portion and hollow legs telescopingly receiving the legs of the first U-shaped member of the brace frame assembly and said legs of the further U-shaped member having spring pin latch retaining devices and the legs of the first U-shaped member having adjusting holes for receiving the pin latches, whereupon with the releasing of the pin latches and the collapsing of the brackets connected to the lower ends of the vertical support and brace frames, the frames can be readily collapsed vertically upon one another.
 3. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 2 and said further U-shaped member having wheel assemblies connected at the ends of the bight portion for supporting the exercising machine when collapsed.
 4. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said hammock support frame including sleeves respectively pivotally connected at their ends to the vertical legs of the vertical support frame and the legs of the U-shaped hammock frame member being respectively adjustable in and out of the outer ends of the sleeves and respectively having adjusting holes, pin latch devices provided on the outer ends of the sleeves for holding the frame member of the hammock support frame in its adjusted position within the sleeves and a hammock suspended between the sleeves in longitudinal alignment with the pivotable foot support.
 5. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 4, and a winch mechanism carried on one Of the hammock sleeves and having a cable extending therefrom to the forward end of one of the sleeves upwardly and across between pulleys on the bight portion of the first U-shaped brace member and to the opposite sleeve.
 6. A portable exercise machine as defined in claim 1, and said vertical support legs having adjusting holes and said vertically spaced handle bars having pin latch devices at the opposite ends of the same adapted to engage with the adjusting holes of the vertical legs of the vertical support frame to hold the handle bars at different vertically adjusted positions.
 7. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said swiveled foot supporting device including a double pedal crank, a T fitting member having a stem, said double pedal crank journaled in the T fitting member and axially extending sleeve in said stem of the T fitting member being journaled in the axially extending sleeve, said sleeve being secured to the bight portion of the hammock frame U-shaped member.
 8. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said brace frame assembly including a further U-shaped member being formed of tubular stock having a bight portion and vertically extending legs telescopically receiving the legs of the first brace frame U-shaped member, and pin latch devices for adjustably retaining the U-shaped members in positions extended from one another and releasable to permit the collapse of the machine and said hammock frame including sleeves pivotally connected at their ends to the legs of the vertical frame support and the U-shaped member of the hammock frame having legs respectively telescopingly fitted in the outer ends of the sleeves, said legs of the U-shaped hammock frame member having adjusting holes and said sleeves having pin latch devices engageable with the adjusting holes of the hammock frame U-shaped member to permit the collapse of the hammock frame U-shaped member into the sleeves and to hold the same to an outwardly extended adjusted position, said hammock being extended between the sleeves of the hammock frame assembly, wheel support devices connected to the lower ends of the U-shaped brace member and engagable with a floor surface upon brace frame being collapsed onto the vertical frame support.
 9. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 8, and a winch carried on the hammock frame assembly on one of the sleeves thereof and having cables extendable along the one sleeve and a pulley on the other end of the sleeve for receiving the cable, transversely spaced pulleys carried on the bight portion of the first U-shaped member of the brace frame assembly and receiving the cable and anchor means on the sleeve of the opposite side of the hammock frame support, said winch means and cable serving to elevate the hammock frame assembly to different vertical positions and upwardly to a vertically extended position parallel with the vertical support on the brace frame assembly being collapsed and the exercising machine being made ready for transport and storage. 